Warning: This article contains details of the plot of the movie, and some explicit descriptions.
Last year's The Human Centipede was mad, bad and really quite grotesque. But this year's sequel, imaginatively called The Human Centipede II, has been rejected by the British Board of Film Classification on the basis that it is "sexually violent and potentially obscene". This means that the DVD cannot be legally supplied anywhere in the UK.
The original film was released, uncut, as an 18 last year. This one, however, apparently has "unacceptable material" throughout which cannot be remedied with cuts. The filmmakers have six weeks in which to appeal against the decision.
It's worth noting, before we get all up in arms, that this is a relatively rare decision for the BBFC, who outlined their reasons at some length and stressed that the full Board was in on this one. The full reasoning is below - but if you're of a sensitive disposition even this may be rather unpleasant.
"The first film dealt with a mad doctor who sews together three kidnapped people in order to produce the ‘human centipede’of the title. Although the concept of the film was undoubtedly tasteless and disgusting it was a relatively traditional and conventional horror film and the Board concluded that it was not in breach of our Guidelines at ‘18’. This new work, The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence), tells the story of a man who becomes sexually obsessed with a DVD recording of the first film and who imagines putting the ‘centipede’ idea into practice. Unlike the first film, the sequel presents graphic images of sexual violence, forced defecation, and mutilation, and the viewer is invited to witness events from the perspective of the protagonist. Whereas in the first film the ‘centipede’ idea is presented as a revolting medical experiment, with the focus on whether the victims will be able to escape, this sequel presents the ‘centipede’ idea as the object of the protagonist’s depraved sexual fantasy.
The principal focus of The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence) is the sexual arousal of the central character at both the idea and the spectacle of the total degradation, humiliation, mutilation, torture, and murder of his naked victims. Examples of this include a scene early in the film in which he **********s whilst he watches a DVD of the original Human Centipede film, with sandpaper wrapped around his penis, and a sequence later in the film in which he becomes aroused at the sight of the members of the ‘centipede’ being forced to defecate into one another’s mouths, culminating in sight of the man wrapping barbed wire around his penis and raping the woman at the rear of the ‘centipede’. There is little attempt to portray any of the victims in the film as anything other than objects to be brutalised, degraded and mutilated for the amusement and arousal of the central character, as well as for the pleasure of the audience. There is a strong focus throughout on the link between sexual arousal and sexual violence and a clear association between pain, perversity and sexual pleasure. It is the Board’s conclusion that the explicit presentation of the central character’s obsessive sexually violent fantasies is in breach of its Classification Guidelines and poses a real, as opposed to a fanciful, risk that harm is likely to be caused to potential viewers.
David Cooke, Director of the BBFC said: “It is the Board's carefully considered view that to issue a certificate to this work, even if confined to adults, would be inconsistent with the Board's Guidelines, would risk potential harm within the terms of the VRA, and would be unacceptable to the public.
“The Board also seeks to avoid classifying material that may be in breach of the Obscene Publications Acts 1959 and 1964 (OPA) or any other relevant legislation. The OPA prohibits the publication of works that have a tendency to deprave or corrupt a significant proportion of those likely to see them. In order to avoid classifying potentially obscene material, the Board engages in regular discussions with the relevant enforcement agencies, including the CPS, the police, and the Ministry of Justice. It is the Board’s view that there is a genuine risk that this video work, The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence), may be considered obscene within the terms of the OPA, for the reasons given above."
Basically, I don't really mind if it is banned or if the appeal is successful because I have no incentive to watch it. In my opinion, it's just an attempt at being shocking and gruesome for the sake of hype, attention and money. I mean, reading that article and hearing some of the things they've put into the film are just laughable and ridiculous.
I can fully understand why it has been banned, though I'm not really bothered.
Thoughts?
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06-06-2011, 08:58 PM
lawrawrrr
I think I just vomited.
This film is gonna be more messed up than the first... I doubt they'll appeal... they'd have to practically reshoot it all ;l
06-06-2011, 09:08 PM
Misawa
No film should ever be banned. If you're 18+ you should be able to see whatever you want. The BBFC are backward and we need a ratings system like the US where films don't need ratings to be distributed.
06-06-2011, 09:23 PM
Recursion
It's like Clockwork Orange, it'll be banned but people will still watch it, not really a huge deal.
06-06-2011, 09:29 PM
Eoin247
It sounds like a discusting film, made me feel kinda sick reading the plot to this movie. But i agree with Misawa. No film should be banned. You should be able to watch whatever you want once your 18.
06-06-2011, 09:36 PM
Misawa
Quote:
Originally Posted by Recursion
It's like Clockwork Orange, it'll be banned but people will still watch it, not really a huge deal.
Essentially no one saw A Clockwork Orange in the UK when it was banned. It wasn't like today when an uncut bootleg will end up on the internet.
06-06-2011, 09:45 PM
Judas
i agree films shouldn't be banned ever, at the end of the day it is art that someone has put time into and i'm sure the viewer would know what they are in for if they are buying a copy. but in this particular instance, i don't really give a ****
06-06-2011, 10:04 PM
Inseriousity.
I don't really care for the same reason. I won't watch it, those who want to watch it will go out of their way to try and get it so no harm done. Personally, I think it sounds like a disgusting film but to each their own.
06-06-2011, 10:20 PM
peteyt
As a horror fan I still haven't seen the original but this sounds a bit WTF.
Some films shock but have a story and then some films just want to shock. I prefer classic stuff which actually has a story.
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